US 3DS sales tracking ahead of Wii

four million units shifted in nine months, reveals Nintendo.

The Nintendo 3DS sold more units during its first nine months on sale in the US than the Wii managed during its first nine months, Nintendo has said.

More than four million 3DS units have been sold in the US in 2011, whereas Wii shifted 4.5 million units and DS 3.4 million. In total, Nintendo hardware sales topped 12 million units over the calendar year.

The Wii and DS installed bases are 39 million and 51 million, respectively.

Nintendo is also celebrating software success, with Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 for the Nintendo 3DS becoming the fastest-selling titles in the history of their respective franchises and also the first Nintendo 3DS titles to sell 1 million units each in the United States.

On Wii, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword became the 45th Wii title to sell more than 1 million units in the United States.

"Not only have the new Mario and Zelda titles already broken records, but with strong reviews and satisfied customers sharing their positive experiences, all three are also shaping up to be the latest long-tail titles from Nintendo," said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "Couple that with a massive first- and third party line-up in the first part of the year and the prospects for 2012 are extremely promising."

Nintendo also revealed that Mario Kart Wii has now passed 11 million units sold, whilst New Super Mario Bros. for Nintendo DS has sold 10 million units.